The Most Iconic DC Female Superhero Costumes

By Esteban Cepero

While there’s an immense amount of iconic men superheroes, female superheroes have played a huge part in comics. Just look at Wonder Woman, not only one of the classic faces of the Justice League, but an inspiration to many females around the world. These classic female superheroes can never be forgotten, and it's not only a superheroes character that can cause them to be so recognizable, their costumes actually make a huge contribution to this. Over the years, each superhero’s costume evolves into something even greater than before; but it’s time to take a peek back to where these costumes first began. So with that being said, let’s look at some of the most iconic DC women’s superhero costumes in their earliest days!

Zatanna

DC

The stage/real magician Zatanna! Zatanna is known to be the daughter of the golden age comic magician Giovanni Zatara and Sindella, a member of the mystical Homo magi race. Zatanna’s younger cousin, teenager Zachary Zatara, is also a magician in the DCU. Zatanna lives her life as a stage illusionist after previously discovering her magical abilities after investigating the mysterious disappearance of her father. Zatanna went on to become a superhero and even a known member of the Justice League. Zatanna’s original costume when she first appeared in Hawkman back in the late sixties, is based off of her father's magician costume but of course replacing good old slacks for fishnet stockings and high heels. While her being a 24 hour magician, this was obviously going to show in the costume design.

Hawkgirl

DC

The mighty Hawkgirl! An archaeologist by the name of Carter Hall had some sort of dream that he is an old ancient Egyptian prince, named Khufu, who has a lover, named Shiera. On the very next day, Carter somehow meets a woman with the name Shiera who appeared exactly the same as the woman in his dream. Carter creates the alias of Hawkman and Shiera becomes Carter's classic girlfriend. Shiera made her first appearance as Hawkgirl in All Star Comics #5 all the way back in 1941. Sheira was in a costume designed by Sheldon Moldoff, which was obviously based on Hawkman’s costume. During Hawkman's run of the Justice Society of America story, Shiera is given a spare set of Nth metal wings developed by Hawkman himself, and actually dresses up as Hawkman in order to trick some criminals. Later on, Shiera continues to wear the costume and wings in later stories, she eventually adopted the alias of Hawkgirl.

Powergirl

DC 

Power Girl, well, her name just says it all! Kara Zor-L is the cousin of DC’s most iconic superhero Superman, but actually from an alternative universe. Originally coming from the world of Earth-Two, which was first thought of as the home of DC's classic superheroes published in 1940s comic books. Power Girl ended up becoming stranded in the main universe where most DC stories are set, and soon becomes affiliated with the regular Earth’s Superman and her own universe parallel, Supergirl. While there are a couple of adaptations to Power Girl’s costume, her most common costume is a “leg-baring, figure-hugging, long-sleeved white leotard with an opening in the chest.”

Black Canary

DC

Someone better cover their ear for the Canary cry! When she made her Golden Age debut in DC comics, Black Canary was initially the alter ego of Dinah Drake and was involved in many crime-fighting adventures with her future husband, the Gotham City detective Larry Lance. Originally, the character was a hand-to-hand combat type of fighter without any superpowers at all and even often went undercover as a criminal to infiltrate and take down criminal gangs. In a couple of more stories down the years, she was portrayed as a world-class martial artist with the superpower the famous "Canary Cry," an extremely high-powered sonic scream which gives her the ability to not only shatter objects but also incapacitate her enemies. Black Canary’s costume has always had a simple design to it. With her being a master in hand-to-hand combat, her costume design made it easier to move around freely and fight criminals without any difficulty. In later adaptations, there were a couple of adjustments but it stuck to its originality. 

Batgirl

DC

“Don’t worry, Bat-Girl will save you!” Bat-Girl wasn’t always the iconic Barbara Gordon, the original Bat-Girl first made her appearance in Batman #139 all the way back in 1961 as Betty Kane, the known niece of Kathy Kane, who was also famously known as Batwoman. After discovering her aunt's alter ego, Betty begged and eventually convinced Batwoman to train her as her sidekick. Batwoman and Bat-Girl were created and thought of to be love interests for both Batman and Robin. They were also created as wannabe crime-fighting partners for the two. Bat-Girl appeared only seven times between the years of 1961 and 1964, but then vanished in 1964 along with Batwoman. It turns out the new Batman editor, Julius Schwartz, decided she and many other Batman characters were too corny. Bat-Girl would later come back into DC comics but with a different alias, Flamebird and her name was eventually changed to”Bette Kane.” Bat-Girl’s original costume in the sixties was designed quite similar to Batwoman’s costume, considering the fact that she was her sidekick. When the costume was redesigned in later concepts, it was more similar to Batman’s costume when the mantle of “Bat-Girl” meant being the sidekick of Batman. 

Supergirl

DC

The Supergirl from Krypton! Being known by her Kryptonian real name, Kara Zor-El, Supergirl was born on the destroyed planet Krypton to Superman’s uncle and aunt which makes Supergirl the biological cousin to Clark Kent. She is also the iconic female parallel to DC comic's classic old superhero, Superman. Supergirl made her debut in the comics franchise where it all started, Action Comics #252 in 1959! Supergirl’s costume was designed to be almost a female counterpart to Superman’s costume. The costume rocks the iconic red cape, blue suit, and the classic red “S” on the chest! Other than a couple of modern touches in a couple of adaptations, Supergirl’s costume has always stayed the same!

Wonder Woman

DC

Possibly the toughest female superhero to ever be created! Wonder Woman is one of the founding members of the Justice League. She is also a demigoddess, and a warrior princess of the Amazons. In her original homeland, she is Princess Diana of the island Themyscira, and outside world of Themyscira, she is known by her secretive name Diana Prince. Wonder Woman was said to be sculpted from clay by her mother and brought to life by Zeus, making her the supposed daughter of the god. Wonder Woman’s costume was meant be designed to have a patriotic look with her being created during the time of World War II. This included the following: her signature five-pointed star symbols, a golden eagle on her chest, crimson red bustier, white belt, and a dark blue star spangled skirt/culotte. In later adaptations, her costume was altered to have more of a ‘warrior’ appearance to it. Even though the iconic colors didn't change much.